Genres - Grades 3+

Lesson Title: Genres

Subject: Library

Grade: 3+

Time: 3 classes – 30 minutes

Materials needed:
Data Charts
Pencils
Large Chart and a pictorial representation for each student (eg: cut out of boys and girls)
Genre Cards

Books:
3-5 books in each of different genres: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Informational, Biography, Mystery, Fairy Tales, Poetry,

Vocabulary: Genre

The Point: Students will explore different genres and categorize characteristics on their own. They will come up with the genre words on their own, thus understanding the characteristics of different genres through their own research.


Day 1 – 30 minutes (a longer class time can combine days 1 & 2)

Ahead of time group books into piles by genres. The books should be placed in locations spread out from each other to allow pairs to work. Students should be pre-divided into pairs.
Explain to students that they will be examining and comparing groups of books to find similarities or characteristics of the group.
Explain the rotation and procedure. Each pair should go to the assigned table and examine the books placed there. In the data chart they should record words and phrases that tell characteristics that make the books the same. Students should look at the insides of the book as well as the covers. They should continue to make comparisons and fill in the chart until the signal is given. When the signal is given they will rotate to a new set of books and fill in the chart for that set.
Show them the data charts. Remind them that they do not need to write in complete sentences - words and phrases will be fine. Tell them they will be doing this activity in partners which you will assign. Tell them that one partner must be the recorder and one the reporter. They can decide, but each of them must do one or the other.
Divide into pairs and hand out data sheets. Assign locations
Students should be given 5 minutes at each genre. As the students work, monitor their progress. Remind them that things they right on their chart must be true of all of the books in the group. Stop after 3 or 4 rotations, let them know they will finish next week.




Day 2 – 30 minutes
Ahead of time get the classroom ready with the same books as used last week. Putting them in the same locations will help the rotations to work out right.
Remind the students what they did last week. Students can share the procedure. Check for questions then divide the students into partners and assign locations.
Begin rotation. Today students will finish the remaining rotations. At the end of each 5 minutes give the signal and have students rotate.
After students have been through the rotations have them come back together in a group and discuss their findings. The reporter should do the talking for the pair. Ask each set of partners to report on one of the groups. Then give the other groups a chance to add other words and phrases. Record answers on the large charts (if there is a student who writes quickly and well, you might want to assign a student to record). At the end of each group, talk about what we could call the group. The idea is for the students to come up with the genre name.

Day 3 – 30 minutes

Review what was learned about Genres last week. Discuss what a genre is. Explain that students will have the opportunity to choose which genre they like best.
Give groups of 3 students one book from each genre. Set up cards listing the genres around the room. Students in each group will decide which genre each book belongs in and put the books by the proper cards.
After all groups are finished, show any books that might not be in the right place and re-order them.
Explain that they will now be doing a quick rotation through each of the genres in order to decide which one they like best. When they are at each genre station, they should look over the books until the signal is given to rotate. Divide the class equally among the genres. Give students 1-2 minutes at each genre.
Students come back together in a big group and each places their pictograph on the chart next to the genre they liked the best.
If time allows, talk about the graph. Is one genre liked more by girls or boys? Would the results be the same for a different same grade class? Would they have picked the same genre a year ago? Do they think the results would be the same in a year's time?







Recorder Name: _____________________ Reporter Name:________________________


Book Similarities Data Chart

Compare the similarities of the books in each group. Write down words and phrases that describe how the books are the same. Remember that each word or phrase must be true of all the books in a group.

Group 1





Group 2





Group 3





Group 4





Group 5





Group 6






Group 7